The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a series of major administrative directives aimed at supporting students, competitive exam aspirants, and senior citizens across the state. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted a comprehensive review meeting of the Social Welfare Department, laying down clear guidelines to reform Jay Prakash Narayan Sarvodaya Schools, speed up pension approvals for the elderly, and ensure transparent, time-bound scholarship distribution. Social Welfare Minister Asim Arun was also present during the review session. The Chief Minister emphasized that providing seamless welfare benefits to every eligible individual remains the top governance priority.
Administrative Restructuring and Teacher Hiring in Sarvodaya Schools
To strengthen the residential education framework in Uttar Pradesh, a comprehensive overhaul of Jay Prakash Narayan Sarvodaya Schools has been initiated. During the meeting, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to formulate a clear regulatory manual for these institutions. Additionally, a dedicated society will be constituted to oversee the management and daily operations of these residential schools effectively. The Chief Minister instructed the department to accelerate the recruitment process for vacant teaching posts and ensure adequate human resources tailored to students' academic requirements.
According to data presented in the meeting, only 93 Sarvodaya schools were operational across the state prior to 2017. Due to focused infrastructure expansion, this count has increased to 103 schools for the 2025-26 academic session. To maintain high educational standards, 59 of these schools are affiliated with the CBSE Board, while 44 are affiliated with the UP Board. The primary goal is to provide quality learning environments equipped with modern facilities to enrolled students.
Simplifying Old-Age Pension Rules and Clearing Pending Applications
Focusing on social security for senior citizens, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered officials to streamline the implementation of the National Old Age Pension Scheme. He stressed that eligible elderly applicants must not face unnecessary waiting periods or bureaucratic delays. The administration has been instructed to establish a strict, time-bound workflow covering everything from initial application verification to the final sanctioning of pension benefits.
The reach of the old-age pension scheme in Uttar Pradesh has expanded significantly over recent years. In 2017-18, the scheme supported 37.47 lakh beneficiaries, a figure that has grown to 67.50 lakh beneficiaries in 2025-26. At present, approximately 11.50 lakh new applications are pending verification. The Chief Minister directed authorities to complete the verification of these pending forms promptly so eligible seniors can receive their monthly financial aid without further delay.
Free Coaching for Competitive Exams Under Abhyudaya Scheme
Reviewing the Chief Minister Abhyudaya Scheme, which provides free coaching and guidance to students preparing for competitive examinations, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called for enhancing its reach and overall effectiveness. He directed officials to optimize existing infrastructure and ensure that aspirants benefit from the expertise of top-tier educators and subject specialists across the state.
The Abhyudaya scheme currently operates across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh through 163 centers. A total of 23,801 students are registered at these centers, preparing for competitive examinations including UPSC, State PCS, NEET, JEE, and NDA or CDS. The program leverages a network of 1,783 impaneled expert teachers to deliver quality instruction. Additionally, 4 Centers of Excellence have been established under this initiative to provide specialized coaching facilities.
October 2 Deadline for Scholarships and Portal Reopening
Addressing scholarship disbursals, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reiterated that no eligible student should suffer academically due to financial constraints. He directed officials to immediately reopen the application portal for both pre-matric and post-matric scholarship schemes. He set a firm deadline of October 2 for the direct transfer of scholarship funds into the bank accounts of all eligible candidates.
To assist students who missed out on scholarship opportunities due to technical issues or administrative delays, a recovery mechanism is being implemented. Reopening the portal will provide a fresh opportunity to approximately 3.16 lakh deprived students across various educational institutions. This pool includes 31,836 students from government institutions, 69,631 students from government-aided institutions, and 2,46,426 students from private educational institutions.
